Spud and Chloe at the Farm

Love the patterns. Gave the book to my crafty daughter who fell in love with your patterns.

There are two knitting books that I have purchased that feature farm animals. This Spud and Chloe book by Susan Anderson and also Sarah Keen's book Knitted Farm Animals. I have both books, and so to help knitters decide on what book might work for them, i've attempted to compare them both. I've knitted almost all of the animals (and of course Chloe) in this book and they came out very nice. There is not as much detail on the animals as the ones in Knitted Farm Animals by Sarah Keen, but the animals in this book are sweet just the same. I'm not a big fan of the story that goes along with the book...I think it could have been written much better. I feel it's more for adults than for kids.All the animals are knitted on double point needles, so if you are not skillful with this technique, it could be a problem. The animals in Knitted Farm Animals are all done on two needles, so if you are more familiar with using two needles, i would opt for that book. That being said, once you get the hang of the double pointed needles...it is nice not to have to do much seaming.I don't like that some of the basic techniques are not addressed in Susan's book, so if you are unfamiliar with a stitch, you would have to research how to do it elsewhere. Susan does offer on-line tutorials to address this, but i think putting in instructions for the techniques at the back of the book to refer to while knitting, would have been helpful. Sarah's book, at the back, addresses all techniques in great detail, that are used in knitting the animals. The facial features on Susan's animals are quite difficult to master. One wrong stitch placement can cause a weird look on an animal's face. The features on the animals in Sarah's book are time consuming to knit, but all in all give a much more realistic look. i like the technique used to make the eyes in Sarah's book as well.The yarn suggested for the animals in spud and chloe is very expensive...so i opted to use encore plymouth yarn in worsted weight...and it is perfect. Something to realize however is that the hay bales and the pigs in Susan's book are in a different weight yarn. I don't know why susan did that. In my exuberance to purchase the yarn, I neglected to check out all the weights for each animal, assuming that they all used the same, so i bought the yellow for the hay bales and the pink for the pigs in the worsted weight...rather than in the chunky and fine weight respectively. Now i have to go out and purchase more yarn in the correct weights. My fault i admit...but it would be nice to have everything in the book knitted in the same weight yarn. Sarah's book uses all the same yarn weight throughout which is a DK weight. She doesn't suggest a yarn, and any DK weight yarn will work. I used Berroco Comfort yarn and Plymouth Dreambaby.i have to say, the little chicks in susan's book are not very cute at all! (sorry, susan). actually...they don't even look like chicks...but more like little fish with fins. i decided to make the chicks from the Knitted Farm Animals...and they are much cuter. Susan's little chicks do have a shell that they "hatch" from...so I just made a few shell halves from susan's book to go with the chicks in Sarah's book.All in all, i have enjoyed making the farm animals. I opted not to knit the barn...my husband made one for me out of wood and we painted it. I felt it was much more sturdy. the animals are cute and i know my grandson will love playing with them on "the farm". that being said...if you want farm animals with a lot of detail that come out adorable, the Knitted Farm Animals by Sarah Keen is the one to buy. Just realize, that they are very time consuming because of the detail I have made the rooster...and the detail is amazing! the chicks are too cute for words as well. the only problem is...many of the animals in Sarah's book are knitted in the sitting position, so having them prance around on four legs won't happen. susan's animals are knitted in the standing position which makes for great imaginative play.i knitted most of the animals in Sarah Keen's knitted WILD animal book for my grandson, and even though they are also knitted in the sitting position, he loves playing with them. i'm just making the point that the animals in the spud and chloe at the farm book are perhaps more adaptable to imaginative play as a child can make them walk around.Spud and Chloe at the Farm also includes farm accessories, like buckets, fences, and hay bales, that add to the farm decor and imaginative play. Sarah's book just has the animals.

I appreciate Ms. Anderson’s patterns. They are easy to follow and understand.

Spud and Chloe At The Farm is a wonderful book with fun, interesting patterns. The patterns are very clearly written and easy to follow. Each animal is about 3 to 6 inches so they are pretty quick to make. I have made the mice, cat, dog and the lamb so far! I hope to make to whole set.I highly recommend this beautiful book.

Just got the book and already I'm in love! It is a perfect size, not too heavy or cumbersome. I've found books that have only two or three items I REALLY want to make and this one has many more. I had fallen in love with circular needles but the author brought me back to the pleasure of double-pointed needles for smaller projects. I'm half way up Chloe's body and am already happy that I won't have to sew a seam up her back! In response to one review that observed that the patterns were a bit simple, I'd encourage you to buy this book if you are indeed looking for something that is super cute, yet very doable. Can't wait to make Spud. He does NOT look too simple for me! :) I look forward to seeing the author's next book. - additional comments. I just finished Chloe and the Little Lamb. Reday for Spud now. I don't feel like a beginner knitter but the lamb was a bit of a challenge. Also, keep your internet access handy. You tube to the rescue! I didn't know what the kitchener stitch was (used for the Mary Janes for Chloe) but the directions were easy to find. I appreciate that she didn't add those directions to the book since a video is more helpful than written directions for things such as the kitchener stitch! I just ordered Itty Bitty Nursery :)-second update... I just received Itty Bitty Nursery and that book has an extensive glossary of special stitches - including great directions on how to do the kitchener stitch. If you are looking for clothes/blankets and toys, try that book next.

Received this in the mail today. I am VERY impressed! I am a huge fan of Farmville on Facebook, so this is right up my alley! I admit to hesitating to acquire this one. I loved the Itty Bitty Toys book she did. I thought this may be more of a story book, so that part caused me hesitation. How nice to discover the story is in "comic book" style and you can read as you knit or the entire story in the back. I hope I don't reveal too much. And the kids love my knitted toy books too. So this is a welcome addition. I think the size of the book is perfect. I was glad it is hardback. My paperbacks become wrinkled so quickly. When I don't knit from them, I drool over them, IF it is well done. This is.I can see a "Spud and Chloe rides again" with a male farmer, wardrobes, a horse, a duck, a mat/tote, a goose, llama, emu, watering trough... Hey I got some good ideas huh?Also Thank you Amazon for offering this wonderful book at an affordable price. That was probably the best part...

I bought this book in the Summer holidays after my 5 year old saw the cover of it and wanted the "girl and sheep", I have now knitted my way through 2/3rds of the book. It is simply the best fun I've had knitting ever!I can't believe how clever the patterns are, everything I have made has turned out looking like the photo (rare for me). When I was stuck with understanding the sheep and making that nubbly looking pattern I went to the Spud and Chloe website and there was the directions on how to knit the "twisted loop stitch", so I now have new techniques that I have learned. I can't wait to work my way through the entire book, my 5 year sure got more than she asked for:)

I bought this after seeing it in a knitting magazine. I must admit to not realising that Spud and Chloe is part of a wool brand (Blue Sky Alpaca) and also that the charts were American, however after a bit googling I soon figured out what I needed to do.My four year old son has chosen the dog and cat for me to knit and chose his own wool colours. The designs are typically knitted in the round on double pointed needles which has been fiddly at first but again a few tutorials on you tube has sorted this out.The book is beautiful full of colour photographs and a cute story at the end. Nice coffee table book for the avid knitter!

lovely characters to knit, very well done book, good idea for kids too........would recommend highly, cant wait to get started on this.

very pleased

Love Susan's work ! Her patterns are easy to follow . The knitted animals are adorable!:) I would recommend this book. Also Craftsy has some great classes that she gives. I'm hooked on knitting toys because of Susan!

Ich bin im deutschen Knitter auf dieses Buch gestoßen. Die gestreifte Tigerkatze ist wirklich niedlich. Naja, die anderen Tiere im Buch nicht mehr so. Schafe finde sowieso ich toll, deshalb habe ich dieses Buch behalten. Vielleicht liegt es dadran, dass ich die Geschichten von Spud & Chloe nicht kenne. Nochmal würde ich es nicht kaufen